A Question of Genes: Inherited Risks follows the personal journey of individuals and families who confront questions about genetic testing. The stories are told without narration, by the participants themselves--allowing the patient, family or physician to speak directly to the viewer about the profound personal and emotional effects of learning genetic information. Many individuals involved in this program are available to answer viewers' questions, following the broadcast, in the Discussion Forum. To view a short video clip from any segment, click on the videotape icon beside the title. Case Study No. 1 New Choices, New Dilemmas Parents weigh the results of prenatal tests Case Study No. 2 Unexpected Consequences When one genetic marker implicates more than one disease Case Study No. 3 A Daughter's Tale The generational impact of genetic disease Case Study No. 4 A Balancing Act Weighing scientific objectives and business interests Case Study No. 5 The Disenfranchised Battling the stigmas that surround genetics and heredity Case Study No. 6 Testing Family Bonds The divisive effects of genetic testing Case Study No. 7 Extreme Measures Genetic testing casts new light on old decisions Case Study No. 1 New Choices, New Dilemmas Parents weigh the results of prenatal tests Marilyn is pregnant. She agrees to be tested for the gene for cystic fibrosis (CF) as part of research. To her surprise, the results are positive. Her husband also tests positive, meaning they now have a one-in-four chance of having a child with CF. They soon discover that Marilyn is pregnant with twins. They now much make a choice, knowing that if the twins are born with CF, they might not live to adulthood. As genetic tests are made available, more pregnant women must decide whether to learn their unborn babies' genetic fates, only to struggle with the dilemma of what to do with the information. To learn more, click here to go to the Educator's Guide. Marilyn Lewis-Hampton, who appears in this profile, is available to answer viewers' questions on this Web site following the broadcast. Click here to enter the Discussion Forum. Case Study No. 2 Unexpected Consequences When one genetic marker implicates more than one disease Kathleen, a patient with heart disease, seeks out Daniel Rader, M.D., a specialist in the genetics of the disease. Dr. Rader's genetic test reveals that Kathleen is at high risk for heart disease. However, the gene is also a marker for Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Rader faces a dilemma: his patient came to him about heart disease, not Alzheimer's -- should he share the results? The experience leads Dr. Rader to conclude that although the test is valuable, he may stop using it until the ethical issues surrounding the genetic tests are resolved. To learn more, click here to go to the Educator's Guide. Dr. Daniel Rader, who appears in this profile, is available to answer viewers' questions on this Web site following the broadcast. Click here to enter the Discussion Forum. Case Study No. 3 A Daughter's Tale The generational impact of genetic disease Forty-year-old Janet watched her father deteriorate and die from Alzheimer's disease. She now lives with the fear that her husband and children may someday be forced to repeat that experience with her. Eager to be tested for Alzheimer's genes, Janet enters a genetic research program. Will her fears of being genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's be confirmed? To learn more, click here to go to the Educator's Guide. Janet Walsh, who appears in this profile, is available to answer viewers' questions on this Web site following the broadcast. Click here to enter the Discussion Forum. Case Study No. 4 A Balancing Act Weighing scientific objectives and business interests This profile takes a look at Millennium, a company involved in genetic research. Philip Reilly, M.D., J.D., an expert in ethics and genetics, encourages the staff to talk about the ethical side of genetic research. Two Millennium employees present differing views. Jeffrey is a scientist who, despite his enthusiasm for genetic research, expresses cautions about how it might be used. Joanne focuses on the important products that will result from Millennium's research. To learn more, click here to go to the Educator's Guide. Dr. Philip Reilly and Joanne Nardone, who appear in this profile, are available to answer viewers' questions on this Web site following the broadcast. Click here to enter the Discussion Forum. Case Study No. 5 The Disenfranchised Battling the stigmas that surround genetics and heredity This profile looks at the social and economic realities that prevent some women from participating in genetic testing and research. A study currently underway seeks women of low socioeconomic status to be tested for the genetic marker for breast cancer. Some of the women in the study have limited access to diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. Others, including many African-American women, harbor a strong distrust of medical research due to precedents like the Tuskegee syphilis study. What does genetic testing offer them? To learn more, click here to go to the Educator's Guide. Dr. Generosa Grana is available to answer viewers' questions on this Web site following the broadcast. Click here to enter the Discussion Forum. Case Study No. 6 Testing Family Bonds The divisive effects of genetic testing Sherry and Lani are two sisters whose family has a tragic history of death from breast cancer -- their grandmother died from the cancer at age 41, and their mother at age 44. Sherry developed a related kind of ovarian cancer at age 46. To better understand their risk, both sisters participate in an NIH study that tests for breast cancer and ovarian cancer genes. Sherry is not surprised to find that she carries one of the genes; however, Lani does not. As Sherry battles ovarian cancer, she feels a sense of anger and loneliness. Lani feels guilt -- it would appear that a bond between the sisters has been threatened. To learn more, click here to go to the Educator's Guide. Barbara Biesecker, who appears in this profile, is available to answer viewers' questions on this Web site following the broadcast. Click here to enter the Discussion Forum. Case Study No. 7 Extreme Measures Genetic testing casts new light on old decisions Polly, now 69, lost all three of her sisters to breast cancer. She was so certain that she too would develop the disease, she had her breasts removed as a preventive measure. Now that genetic testing is available, Polly decides to be tested and encourages her children to be tested as well. Polly's daughter refuses the test because she fears losing health insurance for her family. The option of genetic testing raises new questions about future health and insurability, as well as past decisions To learn more, click here to go to the Educator's Guide.